Derry Irvine, Baron Irvine of Lairg

After teaching law at the London School of Economics, Irvine was called to the Bar in 1967 and joined chambers headed by Morris Finer.

[2] Irvine served as Shadow Lord Chancellor from 1992 to 1997 under Labour leaders John Smith, Margaret Beckett, and Tony Blair.

During Irvine's tenure as Lord Chancellor, he oversaw the incorporation of the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.

Blair dismissed Irvine from the Cabinet in June 2003, when he announced his intention to abolish the position of Lord Chancellor.

[5] The cost included £59,000 in hand-printed wallpaper, and contractors had to sign the Official Secrets Act to prevent expenditure leaks.

[5] Although renovation responsibility was with the Lords authorities, Irvine defended the cost by stating that the materials would last longer than cheaper products.